D2C startup, BECO, develops and manufactures 100% natural and plastic-free consumer goods in the kitchen, home, and personal care space. Founded by Aditya Ruia, Anuj Ruia and Akshay Varma, BECO makes a sustainable lifestyle easily accessible to all Indians. It provides affordable and eco-friendly alternatives to single-use products such as napkins, toilet paper, tissue rolls and more. BECO recently launched its first-ever 94% plastic-free and 100% recyclable tetra-pak packaging for cleaning solutions.

In this exclusive interview, BECO’s co-founder, Aditya Ruia, talks to NEHA KIRPAL about their process, products, and plans for the future.

Tell us how you develop and manufacture natural and plastic-free consumer goods.
AR: As a sustainable brand, we want consumers to slowly eliminate non-biodegradable items from their homes. Our products, like tissue rolls, kitchen towels, and other normally plastic goods such as toothbrushes are made from bamboo. Bamboo is a strong, durable fibre that is a better alternative to trees that are felled for paper. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet. We source the raw material from North East India.

In terms of kitchen and personal cleaning solutions, we identify non-toxic chemicals. This ensures that all our products are biodegradable and compostable. The biggest benefit of using non-toxic chemicals in cleaning products is that they prevent health issues for those handling them.

Tell us about your affordable and eco-friendly alternatives.
AR: Single-use plastic is one of the largest reasons for environmental degradation. The genesis of BECO goes back to a time when the three of us were part of a beach clean-up drive in Mumbai. We discovered a plastic wrapper, which belonged to a chocolate whose circulation was discontinued back in the 1990s. We wanted to address the pain point afflicting Indian consumers: lack of awareness and availability as well as the ill-affordable options. Starting BECO was our response to this gap.

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Bamboos are grown all over the world and there are over 1,000 species of bamboo. It is a type of grass and grows from roots. When it is cut, it quickly grows back, with most species maturing in 3-5 years. This amazing plant grows in a variety of environments and doesn’t need any pesticides or herbicides to grow well.

Facts about the sustainability of bamboo

• Rarely needs replanting.
• Produces more oxygen than most trees.
• Plays an important role in the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
• Requires no irrigation.
• Prevents soil erosion.
• Bamboo fibres have less environmental damage than synthetic fibres.

Strength of bamboo

Bamboo has a tensile strength greater than that of even steel. The beauty of bamboo is that it grows with the flow and has the ability to bend in a strong wind storm. This strength lends itself very well to construction applications. These include support beams for heavy lifting, jacking operations, and structural support in homes.

Bamboo and the Green Revolution

The bamboo’s green footprint makes it a plant that could very well shape our future. As forests continue to be cleared for wood production and other needs, bamboo offers us an alternative to clear-cutting. It takes in more carbon dioxide and produces more oxygen than your average hardwood tree. This makes it a valuable partner in fighting climate change.

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